San Rafael residents remain divided on whether to set aside land for high-density affordable housing near the Marin Civic Center, but the majority of the City Council has expressed support for repealing the zoning designation.

While the community was split on the issue, the majority of speakers were pleased that the city was seeking additional community input.

"It's been a long go, but I feel like the public is really being listened to," said Stuart Shepherd, of San Rafael.

Shepherd was one of about 40 people who attended a workshop Friday night at City Hall to discuss a "priority development area" near the Marin Civic Center and a "station area plan" in the same location. The priority development area is a possible location for high-density affordable housing, while the station area plan outlines traffic improvements and housing design standards for the area in preparation for the arrival of a Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit station.

San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips said people often get the two plans confused.

"We're talking about the same area with slightly different concerns to address," Phillips said.

The workshop was a follow up to a meeting held in June, where community members were hotly opposed to having high-density affordable housing placed near the Civic Center. Since then the city has formed a committee of community members to develop 90 frequently asked questions about the two areas and answer those queries. Council members are anticipated to make decisions about both areas and their associated plans Sept. 16.

Community concerns about high-density affordable housing areas have grown as part of a debate about the draft Plan Bay Area, a regional planning and transportation blueprint that envisions 30-unit-per-acre affordable developments along Marin's Highway 101 corridor as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008-2009, the city submitted the priority development area to the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for inclusion in Plan Bay Area.

A majority of the speakers during Friday night's meeting voiced support for the priority development area and station area plans, with the development area being the most discussed item. The development areas have been a hot topic in Marinwood, Tam Valley and Strawberry.

Gail Napell, of San Rafael, said she's supportive of the plans and is frustrated by highly vocal naysayers.

"I resent other individuals in this community, especially those who don't live in the community, saying they speak for the majority," Napel said.

Critics of the two plans argue there hasn't been enough time for public input, high-density housing will result in development incompatible with Marin neighborhoods, there will be a loss of local control and there will be a negative impact on the already strapped Dixie School District.

Richard Hall, representing the local group Quiet and Safe San Rafael, said the plans are a bad idea.

"Many moved to north San Rafael to escape the urbanization of San Francisco, the East Bay and San Jose. San Rafael is their corner of paradise. The Civic Center priority development area encourages fast growth and Manhattan-izes north San Rafael, turning it into precisely the area that they were trying to get away from," Hall said.

City Council members weren't completely united in their ideas about the plans, with Phillips, City Councilman Damon Connolly, City Councilwoman Kate Colin and City Councilman Andrew McCullough voicing support for repealing the priority development area designation. City Councilwoman Barbara Heller said the city should move forward, but potentially reduce the number of high-density units allowed.

Council members agreed to look at making changes to the station area plan, reducing the height of buildings in the area from five-story to three-story complexes and continuing the discussion at their next meeting.